Assigned to Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet, Davis operated
on the east coast and in the Caribbean until the United States entered World
War I. She sailed from Boston 24 April 1917 as one of six destroyers in the
first American destroyer detachment to reach European waters, arriving at
Queenstown, Ireland, 4 May. She performed patrol duty off the coast of Ireland
and escorted merchant convoys through the zone of greatest danger from
submarines. Between 25 and 28 June she met and escorted troop transports
carrying the first American Expeditionary Force to France. She also rescued
many survivors of torpedoed vessels, and on 12 May 1918 picked up 35 members of
the crew of the German submarine U-108 which had been badly damaged in a
collision with the British ship Olympic turning her prisoners over to
British military authorities at Milford Haven. On 13 December 1918 she formed
part of the escort force to take George Washington with President
Woodrow Wilson embarked into the harbor at Brest, France, then passed in review
before the President.

Davis returned to New York 7 January 1919 and after an
overhaul there joined Division 4, Flotilla 8 Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet,
to cruise on the east coast.

From September 1919 to November 1920 she was in reserve at
Philadelphia Navy Yard. Arriving at Charleston, SC, 3 December 1920, she
operated from that port and Newport in reduced commission until arriving at
Philadelphia Navy Yard 29 March 1922. She was decommissioned there 20 June 1922
and transferred to the Coast Guard 25 March 1926. Returned to the Navy 30 June
1933, she was retained in a decommissioned status until sold 22 August 1934.